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The NBA Time Machine: 1969

Posted on by in Sports, The NBA Time Machine

Published March 16, 2023

The NBA Time Machine:
1969

End of an Era

Rise and Shine

Even when considering the fact that two expansion teams infiltrated the NBA in the prior season, the league refused to be complacent. Entering the mix were the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns, two unique club choices with the goal of making professional basketball a nation-wide staple.

Milwaukee hadn’t hosted a team in fourteen years, with the last representative being the Milwaukee Hawks, who left for St. Louis in 1956. The Suns, on the other hand, were unfamiliar territory – Arizona had never seen a professional sports franchise at all, and the decision was heavily criticized. Many saw the recently growing Phoenix as too hot, irrelevant, and distant to be a reasonable location for expansion. Such concerns did not phase owners, as the promise of the city’s recent growth was too good to pass up.

The Bucks and Suns fit comfortably into the Eastern and Western Divisions, respectively.

The Superteam

Uncertainty hit the Philadelphia 76ers when storied coach Alex Hannum committed to coaching the Oakland Oaks of the ABA. The rival league’s influence was clearly growing, and NBA franchises grew weary.

Wilt Chamberlain was initially disappointed by the move – Hannum had coached him to two Finals appearances and a championship in his career, and the famed superstar was very active in questioning how the coaching search was going. Chamberlain eventually entertained the idea of being a player-coach, and there seemed to be some momentum building in determining their personnel.

Philadelphia was subsequently shocked when Chamberlain, fresh off a trip to the west coast, demanded to be traded. He wanted to join the Western Division – his preferred spots were the Los Angeles Lakers, Seattle Supersonics, or San Diego Rockets. The 76ers did not tolerate his request, only to be retaliated with claims that he’d otherwise move to the ABA’s Los Angeles Stars. Former league superstar Rick Barry’s mindset of “player freedom” had now caught on to other talents, and it was leaving managers in a tough situation.

Chamberlain was eventually traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for former All-Stars Archie Clark and Darrell Imhoff, as well as the young Jerry Chambers. The trade seemed blatantly lop-sided, but Philadelphia was not given much leverage – getting a few solid pieces was the best option possible. This was the first time a reigning M.V.P. was traded the season after.

Now paired with Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, Chamberlain became the third of a monstrous “big three” in Los Angeles that seemed overwhelmingly favored to win an NBA championship. The league had not seen a roster of such proportions before, featuring three superstar players amidst their primes.

ATL

Throughout their more recent years in Missouri, the St. Louis Hawks began to run into problems with hosting. They were not fond of their arena selection – their current location, the Kiel Auditorium, was old and small, while the alternative St. Louis Arena had a size advantage but much worse maintenance.

Owner Ben Kerner was denied the request for a bigger arena, and as a result looked to sell the Hawks. They nearly moved to New Orleans, but talks dissipated and they were eventually sold to developers in Atlanta. They did not immediately have access to an area, so they utilized Georgia Tech’s Alexander Memorial Coliseum.

While there was potential for high profit long-term the newfound Atlanta Hawks had a geographical dilemma – they were even further from their Western Division rivals now. The closest one – the Chicago Bulls – was 720 miles out. The next up in proximity was Phoenix at a whopping 1,815.

Youth is Power

Top two draft picks Wes Unseld and Elvin Hayes had phenomenal seasons, both some of the best for rookies in a long time. Unseld led the Baltimore Bullets to a league-best fifty-seven wins, winning the M.V.P. award in the process – he was the first rookie to be honored with such since Wilt Chamberlain in 1960.

Hayes finished first in scoring average and led the San Diego Rockets to a twenty-two game improvement, earning them a playoff berth in just their second season of existence. His phenomenal defense also established them as a top three defensive team in the NBA.

All-Defensive

To parallel the All-NBA Teams, the league introduced an “All-Defensive Team” as part of its regular season awards. Much like its counterpart, the teams were positionally comprised of two guards, two forwards, and a center.

Standout Players

Wes Unseld

Unseld had one of the best rookie seasons in NBA history. While not flashy on the box score, his impact as a defender and rebounder was remarkable. His efforts alongside teammate Earl Monroe helped Baltimore improve by twenty-one games, earning the franchise its first winning record.

Elvin Hayes

The first overall pick lived up to the hype, leading the NBA in scoring and lifting the Rockets to a twenty-two game improvement. Such play brought them to the post-season in only their second year – a rare accomplishment for an expansion franchise.

Willis Reed

Reed was undeniably a superstar at this point. His leadership helped New York see its first ever fifty-win season, and he was a quiet runner-up for the M.V.P. award. Being separated from Walt Bellamy also brought him back to his natural center position, resulting in career highs for scoring and efficiency.

Wilt Chamberlain

The Big Dipper was clouded in controversy this year, due to the dramatic circumstances of his trade demand. He was seen as a locker room cancer and frequently butt heads with coach Butch van Breda Kolff, leaving him with a sour reputation that left him off many seasonal accolades. Regardless, he was effectively their best player during the regular season, leading the league in rebounds and efficiency once again.

Billy Cunningham

Cunningham was the leader of an unexpected 76ers fifty-win season. Many expected them to decline heavily after trading Wilt Chamberlain, but they only worsened by seven games. “The Kangaroo Kid” having his first All-Star season created that reality, alongside the play of teammate Hal Greer.

Oscar Robertson

While Robertson regressed a bit offensively, he still led the league in assists and finished top five in scoring average. The Royals also finished as the top-ranked offense for the first time since 1965, but it was unfortunately still not enough for a playoff berth.

Around the League

Team Standings

Notes
An asterisk (*) indicates that the team qualified for the playoffs.

Eastern DivisionWLWestern DivisionWL
Baltimore Bullets*5725Los Angeles Lakers*5527
Philadelphia 76ers*5527Atlanta Hawks*4834
New York Knicks*5428San Francisco Warriors*4141
Boston Celtics*4834San Diego Rockets*3745
Cincinnati Royals4141Chicago Bulls3349
Detroit Pistons3250Seattle SuperSonics3052
Milwaukee Bucks2755Phoenix Suns1666

Fun Facts

  • This season was historic for the Baltimore Bullets, including:
    • The first winning record in franchise history.
    • Their first time as the first seed of any division.
  • The New York Knicks won their first fifty-win season behind the heroics of Willis Reed and Walt Frazier.
  • The Boston Celtics finished under fifty wins for the first time since 1958, as well as under the second seed in the Eastern Division for the first time since 1955.
  • The Cincinnati Royals bathed in mediocrity for the third season straight, leaving them incapable of seeing the post-season yet again.
    • Their defense was ranked as the worst in the NBA for the second consecutive year, placing below both expansion teams and the undisciplined Detroit Pistons.
  • With a whopping four expansion teams, the Western Division continued to be in a terrible state competitively.
    • The third seed – the San Francisco Warriors – would have finished second-to-last in the Eastern Division.
    • Even the Atlanta Hawks, who boasted a winning record, would have finished fifth in the East – not even adequate for playoff contention.

Notable Movement

Key

The player stats listed are based on their last tenure, whether it be with their former team or the previous season.
Name(s) under the “Top Draft Picks” section with a plus (+) opted to play in another league instead of the NBA this season.
p – points
r – rebounds
a – assists

Top Draft Picks

#TeamPlayer
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10		San Diego Rockets
Baltimore Bullets
Seattle SuperSonics
Chicago Bulls
Cincinnati Royals
Detroit Pistons
Milwaukee Bucks
Phoenix Suns
San Francisco Warriors
New York Knicks		Elvin Hayes
Wes Unseld
Bob Kauffman
Tom Boerwinkle
Don Smith
Otto Moore
Charlie Paulk
Gary Gregor
Ron Williams
Bill Hosket

Players

DatePlayerTeamActionDestinationStats
July 9, 1968Wilt ChamberlainPhiladelphia 76ersTradedLos Angeles Lakers(24.3p/23.8r/8.6a)
July 9, 1968Archie ClarkLos Angeles LakersTradedPhiladelphia 76ers(19.9p/4.2r/4.4a)
October 12, 1968Walt HazzardSeattle SuperSonicsTradedAtlanta Hawks(24p/4.2r/6.2a)
October 12, 1968Lenny WilkensAtlanta HawksTradedSeattle SuperSonics(20p/5.3r/8.3a)
December 19, 1968Dave DeBusschereDetroit PistonsTradedNew York Knicks(16.3p/12.2r/2.2a)

Other Personnel

DatePersonTeamActionStats
April 24, 1968Coach Red KerrChicago BullsResignedRecord: 29-53
April 24, 1968Coach Red KerrPhoenix SunsHiredRecord: n/a
May 1968Coach Bill SharmanSan Francisco WarriorsResignedRecord: 43-39
May 14, 1968Coach George LeeSan Francisco WarriorsHiredRecord: n/a
December 2, 1968Coach Donnie ButcherDetroit PistonsFiredRecord: 10-12
December 2, 1968Coach Paul SeymourDetroit PistonsHiredRecord: 22-38

Retirements

PlayerTeam(s)Notable Accomplishments
Larry CostelloPhiladelphia Warriors
Philadelphia 76ers		1x Champ
1x All-NBA
6x All-Star

League Leaders

If a stat is not listed, it was not recorded at the time. As time goes on, this section will begin to include steals per game, blocks per game, etc.

Key

PPG – points per game
RPG – rebounds per game
APG – assists per game
FG% – field goal percentage (percentage of shots that hit)
FT% – free throw percentage (percentage of foul shots that hit)

StatLeaders
PPGElvin Hayes (28.4)
Earl Monroe (25.8)
Billy Cunningham (24.8)
Elgin Baylor (24.8)
Oscar Robertson (24.7)
RPGWilt Chamberlain (21.1)
Nate Thurmond (19.7)
Bill Russell (19.3)
Jerry Lucas (18.4)
Wes Unseld (18.2)
APGOscar Robertson (9.8)
Lenny Wilkens (8.2)
Walt Frazier (7.9)
Dave Bing (7.1)
Guy Rodgers (6.9)
FG%Wilt Chamberlain (58%)
Jerry Lucas (55%)
Willis Reed (52%)
Terry Dischinger (51%)
Walt Bellamy (51%)
FT%Larry Siegfried (86%)
Jeff Mullins (84%)
Jon McGlocklin (84%)
Flynn Robinson (83%)
Oscar Robertson (83%)

Playoffs

Semifinals

East / Boston Celtics beat Philadelphia 76ers, 4-1
For the fifth straight season, the Celtics and 76ers met in the playoffs. The stark difference in this year’s duel was the absence of Wilt Chamberlain – now on the Los Angeles Lakers, the reigning MV.P. left Philadelphia with a bit of a different makeup.

With Boston declining in the regular season, it was questioned whether they would have the same firepower as usual entering the post-season. They finished seven games worse than their rival, but still possessed the overwhelming advantage of experience. It was clearly a strong enough factor to win some games, as they opened the series with a 3-0 lead.

The 76ers’ biggest issue was Hal Greer’s scoring struggles – it was not until the fourth match, where he finally managed a solid combination of production and efficiency, that they could snatch a victory. That was good enough to avoid a sweep, but the Celtics pulled away on the road to earn a Division Finals appearance.
East / New York Knicks beat Baltimore Bullets, 4-0
After leading the NBA in winning percentage, expectations of Baltimore were high. Anything short of a solid playoff run would be a disappointment, especially given their roster – multiple All-Stars, one of which was the M.V.P., and a slew of talented role players. The only major concern was the lack of star forward Gus Johnson, who had been out with injury since February.

The Knicks were not shy by any means. They only finished three games worse in the regular season, and proved their worth with an efficient statement win on the road in Game 1. Game 2 was an even greater blowout win thanks to the Walt Frazier-Dick Barnett backcourt, who combined for fifty points.

Game 3 was in the Bullets’ favor entering the fourth quarter, but they gave up a small lead to go down 3-0. The issue was not so much on offense as it was defense at this point – Earl Monroe, Wes Unseld, and Kevin Loughery scored decently, but nobody could contain the Knicks’ wild arsenal of scorers. A sweep ensued thanks to forty-three points and seventeen rebounds from Willis Reed in the fourth matchup, sending Baltimore home in disappointment.
West / Atlanta Hawks beat San Diego Rockets, 4-2
Even without Lenny Wilkens, the Hawks were a respectable club. They had two All-Stars in Lou Hudson and Joe Caldwell, as well as multiple quality rotational players that helped solidify a top five-ranked offense. On the contrary, the Rockets were a horrid scoring squad, but had a great defensive identity.

That seemed to dissipate when Lou Hudson scored thirty-nine in the first game on sixty-three-percent shooting, followed by a strong 31/13/2 outing from Zelmo Beaty a couple nights later. San Diego’s defense returned to form in their first home game, marking what would be one of two consecutive wins to tie the series at two apiece.

Closing wins from the Hawks were no surprise, given their simply better personnel. The efforts of Elvin Hayes were not enough to net the Rockets a playoff series win, but the rookie still showed out – dragging a young expansion franchise to two post-season victories is no easy feat.
West / Los Angeles Lakers beat San Francisco Warriors, 4-2
The Warriors surprised fans with back-to-back victories to open the battle of California’s two best teams. Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain struggled in both, with Nate Thurmond routinely outplaying the latter. Chamberlain upped his aggression in a 22/28/5 effort on the Warriors’ floor, building some much-needed momentum.

Him and Baylor were nearly invisible offensively in the remaining matches, but the Lakers still managed to win four straight to snatch the series. Chamberlain’s defense was integral to their success, as Thurmond slowly worsened over time – The Bay’s center averaged only twelve points in the last three games, a surefire way to flush San Francisco’s aspirations down the drain.
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Division Finals

East / Boston Celtics beat New York Knicks, 4-2
A rematch of last year’s first-round matchup was looking more intense than ever. The Knicks improved greatly, but it was unwise to doubt Boston’s toughness – they were fresh off an upset against the 2nd-seeded 76ers.

The Celtics won both of their road games, depending on team play and defense for results. New York took the third thanks to Walt Frazier’s first playoffs triple-double, but made the mistake of dropping the next by one point. Bill Russell dominated that effort, having only his second twenty-point game of the year and bringing twenty-three rebounds along with it.

Frazier was one assist short of another triple-double in a Game 5 victory, which was aided by teammate Willis Reed – twenty-four points was his biggest contribution. The Knicks were looking to force a Game 7 on the floor of their foe, but John Havlicek went absolutely ballistic. He scored twenty-eight points, pulled down thirteen rebounds, piled up five dimes, and hit one game-winning shot. The Celtics had now beat two higher-seeded opponents to reach the Finals yet again.
West / Los Angeles Lakers beat Atlanta Hawks, 4-1
These franchises went head-to-head for the first time since 1966, with Los Angeles clearly favored. The series was incredibly defensive, with only one game exceeding two-hundred total points. Atlanta would see some great individual scoring performances from their players, but nothing could exceed L.A.’s game-changing depth.

The Lakers saw a horrible outing from their “big three” in Game 3, only totaling thirty-nine points on horrible all-around efficiency. Chamberlain flipped a switch in Game 4, scoring twenty-five points and missing no field goals. An Elgin Baylor triple-double proceeded to close the series in the decisive fifth match, setting the stage for yet another Finals war between Los Angeles and their long-term nemesis Boston.

Finals

Boston Celtics beat Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3
Narratives implied this would be the greatest NBA Finals of all-time. The Celtics were underdogs on their last legs – Sam Jones planned to retire after this season, Bill Russell looked interested in doing the same, and John Havlicek wanted to cement his place as a legitimate superstar.

The Lakers had now lost to Boston in all six of their Finals matchups, and were desperate to get over that hump. The acquisition of Wilt Chamberlain was built for this moment – they finally had a Russell neutralizer, and depended on their star power to emerge victorious.

All of the first four games were won by their home team. Jerry West and John Havlicek were the clear attractions, averaging thirty-nine and thirty-three points respectively in that stretch. Sam Jones also hit a vital buzzer beater in the fourth game, helping the Celtics avoid a 3-1 deficit.

The Lakers’ victory in Game 5 was due to Hondo cooling off, whereas West continued to dominate. Chamberlain and Russell had been trading superior performances to the other every night, but the latter only grabbing thirteen boards definitely hurt the Celtics’ chances in that match. He took advantage of a non-aggressive Chamberlain shortly after, willing his teammates to force a tiebreaker.

After being up 2-0, L.A. was now required to stand their ground against a Boston team that just refused to go away. The Lakers ownership and fandom were incredibly arrogant, decorating the Forum as if they had won already and detailing interview plans of the stars after victory. These acts of egotism enraged the Celtics, particularly player-coach Russell – he used it as motivation to fight for an upset, and ordered the Celtics to abuse a worn-down L.A. squad with fast break offense.

After three quarters, the Celtics held a 91-76 lead. Their defense was a dense demotivator to the opposition, and Sam Jones was incredibly efficient from the field. However, he – alongside Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain – was in foul trouble, and eventually fouled out in the fourth quarter after biting on a Jerry West pump fake. He received a warm standing ovation from Lakers fans respecting the final outing of their rival.

Mid-way through the fourth quarter, Chamberlain seemingly twisted his knee – he was taken out of the game immediately and the Lakers subbed in backup Mel Counts, whose energy willed them to a late-game comeback while the Celtics struggled from the field. Boston persevered – largely thanks to a clutch mid-range bucket from Don Nelson that put them ahead with little time left – and they had now won against all odds.

The Celtics had now won eleven championships in thirteen years, sent Sam Jones off as a champion, and spoiled L.A.’s ill-advised party. It seemed impossible to stop Bill Russell’s dynasty at this point – if bringing three superstars together couldn’t change the odds, what possibly could?
The Boston Celtics win the 1969 NBA championship!
Jerry West was named the Finals Most Valuable Player.

Awards

Notes
Name(s) under the “All-Stars” section with an asterisk (*) were listed as the MVP of the All-Star Game that year. Those with “(IR)” next to their name were chosen to replace an injured star.

Major Awards

Rookie of the YearMVPFinals MVPCoach of the Year
Wes UnseldWes UnseldJerry WestGene Shue

All-NBA

All-NBA First TeamAll-NBA Second Team
Oscar Robertson
Earl Monroe
Elgin Baylor
Billy Cunningham
Wes Unseld		Jerry West
Hal Greer
John Havlicek
Dave DeBusschere
Willis Reed

All-Defensive

All-Defensive First TeamAll-Defensive Second Team
Walt Frazier
Jerry Sloan
Dave DeBusschere
Nate Thurmond
Bill Russell		Jerry West
John Havlicek
Tom Sanders
Bill Bridges
Rudy LaRusso

All-Stars

Eastern All-StarsWestern All-Stars
Dave Bing
Billy Cunningham
Hal Greer
John Havlicek
Gus Johnson
Jerry Lucas
Jon McGlocklin
Earl Monroe
Willis Reed
Oscar Robertson*
Bill Russell
Wes Unseld		Elgin Baylor
Joe Caldwell
Wilt Chamberlain
Gail Goodrich (IR)
Elvin Hayes
Lou Hudson
Don Kojis
Rudy LaRusso
Jeff Mullins
Jerry Sloan
Dick Van Arsdale
Jerry West
Lenny Wilkens
East beats West, 123-112

All-Rookie

All-Rookie Team
Gary Gregor
Art Harris
Elvin Hayes
Bill Hewitt
Wes Unseld

All-Time Championship Leaderboard

Notes
The Baltimore Bullets (1947-1954) won the championship in 1948, but are defunct. As a result, they are not listed.

TeamCountYears
Celtics111957, 1959
1960, 1961
1962, 1963
1964, 1965
1966, 1968
1969
Lakers51949, 1950
1952, 1953
1954
Warriors21947, 1956
76ers21955, 1967
Royals11951
Hawks11958

The NBA Time Machine: 1968

Posted on by in Sports, The NBA Time Machine

Published March 11, 2023

The NBA Time Machine:
1968

Working West

Twelve, YoU Say?

After the expansion Chicago Bulls team proved to be an initial success, the league continued to entertain growth in club size. This time around, the west coast got a couple more representatives – the Californian San Diego Rockets, and northwestern Seattle SuperSonics.

The choice for San Diego was inspired by a motivating love for sports in the area, particularly for hockey. With the San Diego International Sports Center considered, the potential for a franchise was high – profit presented itself at every corner.

Regarding other matters, a pair of Los Angeles businessmen – who happened to own the AFL’s San Diego Chargers – were awarded with an NBA franchise, inspiring the move to Seattle. The name “SuperSonics” was largely based on the city’s ties to the aviation industry.

With two new teams in the Western Division, the Detroit Pistons were moved to the East.

Rising Waters

After the American Basketball Association (ABA)’s development in the past year, it finally begun play this season with bold goals of challenging the NBA. The opportunity to start anew excited many established talents, most notably Rick Barry of the San Francisco Warriors.

Due to a mouth-watering contract deal that involved profits exceeding over half a million dollars, Barry was convinced to join the ABA’s Oakland Oaks. This was an easy decision for the talented forward – not only did he have tension with Warriors owner Franklin Mieuli, but he could also play for his former coach and father-in-law Bruce Hale in the rival league.

Barry was ultimately held back from playing due to a one-year contract option exercised by the Warriors, but they had already lost his loyalty. That marked the second superstar in four years they gave up to stingy ownership, with the other being Wilt Chamberlain three years prior.

More and More Games!

The league made a decision to increase the game total from eighty-one to eighty-two games.

Playoff series were also expanded in size. Prior to this season, teams in the first round only needed three wins to advance – the total was increased to four to remain consistent with the Division Finals and Finals.

Dwindling

While the league pace hardly decreased, players were generally less productive. This can be attributed to the sixties’ favorite superstars aging, which influenced the reduction in ludicrous stat-lines. Nobody scored over thirty points per game for the first time since 1959, and nobody reached over ten assists per game for the first time since 1961.

As far as exciting statistical news went, though, Wilt Chamberlain became the first center of all-time to lead the league in total assists.

Standout Players

Wilt Chamberlain

Chamberlain continued his reign as a newly refined player, continuing to raise his assist totals – this year, he led the NBA in total assists. This, in tandem with another great 76ers campaign, earned Chamberlain his third straight M.V.P.

Elgin Baylor

With Jerry West missing over twenty games to injury, Baylor was forced to step up. He had silently accepted the “second option” role in the past few seasons, but this year proved he was still a superstar that could lead a successful team.

Oscar Robertson

While the Royals continued trending downwards, Robertson was still phenomenal. The point guard became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in both scoring and assists averages, and he was the best free throw shooter as well. His status as a generational offensive talent was well beyond solidified.

Dave Bing

Bing’s sophomore season was a much-embraced success by Pistons fans. He increased his points average by seven per game, while also greatly improving as a playmaker. His focus led Detroit to their first playoff appearance in five years.

Lenny Wilkens

Wilkens had always been a quality star, but his development into the Hawks’ commander was remarkable. He led St. Louis to an unprecedented fifty-six wins, which was a seventeen-game improvement and good for first in the West. His exceptional passing abilities elevated the play of everybody on the roster.

Bill Russell

Russell continued to tread through the regular season silently, now putting up his worst numbers to date. He saw career low averages in scoring and rebounding, finishing with under twenty boards per game for the first time. Despite these struggles, the Celtics finished with the second seed in the East under his guidance as a player-coach.

Around the League

Team Standings

Notes
An asterisk (*) indicates that the team qualified for the playoffs.

Eastern DivisionWLWestern DivisionWL
Philadelphia 76ers*6220St. Louis Hawks*5626
Boston Celtics*5428Los Angeles Lakers*5230
New York Knicks*4339San Francisco Warriors*4339
Detroit Pistons*4042Chicago Bulls*2953
Cincinnati Royals3943Seattle SuperSonics2359
Baltimore Bullets3646San Diego Rockets1567

Fun Facts

  • After losing their last match of the season to the New York Knicks, the Cincinnati Royals missed the playoffs by one game.
    • This was the first time the franchise had failed to see the post-season since 1961, which was Oscar Robertson’s rookie year.
  • There was a subtle “brag” moment for the St. Louis Hawks – this was the first season since their first (1950) that they finished with a better record than their fierce rival, the Boston Celtics.
  • The Boston Celtics finished below first in defensive rating for the first time since signing Bill Russell – this honor was now held by rival Wilt Chamberlain’s Philadelphia 76ers.
  • The Western Division’s diluted competition was on full display.
    • The Chicago Bulls – who were fourth in the West, and therefore eligible for the playoffs – would have finished seventh if they were in the Eastern Division.
  • The New York Knicks continued to slowly trend upwards, finishing with a winning record for the first time since 1959.
  • The Los Angeles Lakers’ turn-around was smooth and substantial, improving by a steep sixteen games.
    • This was the second biggest improvement in franchise history, trailing behind the record of an eighteen-game upgrade in 1962.

Notable Movement

Key

The player stats listed are based on their last tenure, whether it be with their former team or the previous season.
Name(s) under the “Top Draft Picks” section with a plus (+) opted to play in another league instead of the NBA this season.
p – points
r – rebounds
a – assists

Top Draft Picks

#TeamPlayer
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10		Detroit Pistons
Baltimore Bullets
Chicago Bulls
Detroit Pistons
New York Knicks
Seattle SuperSonics
San Diego Rockets
St. Louis Hawks
Cincinnati Royals
San Francisco Warriors		Jimmy Walker
Earl Monroe
Clem Haskins
Sonny Dove
Walt Frazier
Al Tucker
Pat Riley
Tom Workman
Mel Daniels+
Craig Raymond

Players

DatePlayerTeamActionDestinationStats
August 31, 1967Rudy LaRussoDetroit PistonsRights soldSan Francisco Warriors(12.8p/7.8r/1.7a)
October 20, 1967Guy RodgersChicago BullsTradedCincinnati Royals(10.3p/3.5r/7a)
January 21, 1968Don OhlBaltimore BulletsTradedSt. Louis Hawks(14.8p/2.9r/2.2a)

Other Personnel

DatePersonTeamActionStats
March 29, 1967Coach Jack McMahonCincinnati RoyalsResignedRecord: 39-42
March 29, 1967Coach Jack McMahonSan Diego RocketsHiredRecord: n/a
April 26, 1967Coach Fred SchausLos Angeles LakersRe-assignedRecord: 36-45
April 26, 1967Coach Butch Van Breda KolffLos Angeles LakersHiredRecord: n/a
May 2, 1967Coach Ed JuckerCincinnati RoyalsHiredRecord: n/a
December 27, 1967Coach Dick McGuireNew York KnicksFiredRecord: 15-23
December 27, 1967Coach Red HolzmanNew York KnicksHiredRecord: 28-16

Retirements

PlayerTeam(s)Notable Accomplishments
Richie GuerinNew York Knicks
St. Louis Hawks		3x All-NBA
6x All-Star

League Leaders

If a stat is not listed, it was not recorded at the time. As time goes on, this section will begin to include steals per game, blocks per game, etc.

Key

PPG – points per game
RPG – rebounds per game
APG – assists per game
FG% – field goal percentage (percentage of shots that hit)
FT% – free throw percentage (percentage of foul shots that hit)

StatLeaders
PPGOscar Robertson (29.2)
Dave Bing (27.1)
Elgin Baylor (26)
Wilt Chamberlain (24.3)
Earl Monroe (24.3)
RPGWilt Chamberlain (23.8)
Jerry Lucas (19)
Bill Russell (18.6)
Clyde Lee (13.9)
Ray Scott (13.7)
APGOscar Robertson (9.7)
Wilt Chamberlain (8.6)
Lenny Wilkens (8.3)
Dave Bing (6.4)
Walt Hazzard (6.2)
FG%Wilt Chamberlain (59%)
Walt Bellamy (54%)
Jerry Lucas (51%)
Jerry West (51%)
Len Chappell (51%)
FT%Oscar Robertson (87%)
Larry Siegfried (86%)
Dave Gambee (84%)
Fred Hetzel (83%)
Adrian Smith (82%)

Playoffs

Semifinals

East / Boston Celtics beat Detroit Pistons, 4-2
The Pistons’ post-season return was much like what the New York Knicks had to endure a season prior – a match-up against the Boston Celtics, which was not exactly a friendly welcome.

Surprisingly enough, the two clubs split the first four games, each winning once at home and on the road. Dave Bing was about the only consistent scorer throughout all four, but the Celtics managed to win behind their veteran experience. Game 4 was a statement victory for them, including a thirty-five-point bomb from John Havlicek and double-doubles from both Bill Russell and Don Nelson.

The Celtics eventually pulled away, largely thanks to Havlicek – he managed a triple-double in both efforts. Not even forty-four points from Bing in the decisive Game 6 was enough.
East / Philadelphia 76ers beat New York Knicks, 4-2
The first two matches were a battle between titans Wilt Chamberlain and Willis Reed, with each clinching one for their team. The 76ers managed a home win in a double-overtime brawl, denying the Knicks despite a double-double from Walt Bellamy and forty points from the sophomore Cazzie Russell.

The opposite was true three nights later – the Knicks surprisingly pulled through, staving off a 3-1 deficit. Philadelphia wrapped up business quite quickly afterwards, grabbing Game 5 thanks to having five players hitting double digits in rebounds. The closing match was a blowout, with Chamberlain and Hal Greer combining for sixty points in the road win.
West / Los Angeles Lakers beat Chicago Bulls, 4-1
Chicago’s chances going into this series were slim to say the least, considering Elgin Baylor and Jerry West were finally together – and healthy – in the playoffs for the first time in a few years.

They reminded the basketball world what they were made of, comfortably taking their first two games at home. Chicago managed an upset in Game 3 thanks to the young and promising point guard Flynn Robinson, who amassed forty-one points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Matters regressed to the mean moving forward, with Robinson quieting down offensively and the Lakers closing the series behind two big Baylor performances.
West / San Francisco Warriors beat St. Louis Hawks, 4-2
San Francisco was expected to be absolutely torn apart by the Hawks, who were coming off a phenomenal season and had the advantage of the Warriors missing Nate Thurmond.

They instead upset St. Louis in six games, an absolutely shocking outcome. The Warriors front office made a smart decision acquiring former All-Star Rudy LaRusso from the Pistons, who was instrumental in this matchup. Him and Jeff Mullins were the leading scorers for the team in the first four games, three of which they won. St. Louis took Game 5 to circumvent elimination, with seven of their players scoring in double digits – however, their ambitions were burned to the ground. LaRusso led San Francisco to a series victory, dropping thirty points and thirteen rebounds.

Considering the Warriors had lost a whopping seven out of eight regular season duels with the Hawks, this was a phenomenal achievement.
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Division Finals

East / Boston Celtics beat Philadelphia 76ers, 4-3
An anticipated rematch between the long-term rivals was now Philadelphia’s to lose. They were the reigning champions, finished the season eight wins above Boston, and boasted a four-time M.V.P. winner in the front court.

Such variables are why the Celtics taking Game 1 on the 76ers’ home court was an immediate shock. There was good effort on both ends, too – the Philly “big three” of Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer, and Chet Walker combined for ninety-one points. John Havlicek just happened to be unstoppable that night, with thirty-five of his own and eleven assists influencing his squad’s victory.

It is often believed that the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. – which happened a day prior – largely interfered with the mindset and focus of the two teams, who both sported primarily African-American starting lineups. The game was described as “devoid of emotion”, perhaps explaining why Philadelphia’s home court advantage wasn’t as game-changing as usual.

Regardless of outside events, the 76ers quickly shifted the tide. Winning three straight en route to a 3-1 lead, they showcased a generational mixture of offense and defense that defined their season. That could not overpower the resilience of Boston, however – led by Havlicek, they managed to win two straight to tie the series. There was potential for a comeback from being down 3-1, something the league had never seen in over twenty years of existence.

Game 7 was baffling, to say the least. Philadelphia imploded, shooting thirty-five-percent from the field and having only Greer score above twenty points. Chamberlain was nowhere to be found offensively, only taking a measly nine field goal attempts and making four. The Celtics were just far more efficient and willing to move the ball, earning them another trip to the Finals.

It was not unreasonable to name this the most legendary playoff series of the decade.
West / Los Angeles Lakers beat San Francisco Warriors, 4-0
Even with the Warriors’ excitement following an upset, it was unlikely that they could top a Lakers team clicking on all levels. A sweep was the predictable result, with Jerry West and Elgin Baylor scoring just about anything with little resistance. West in particular was nuclear, shooting over sixty-percent while averaging thirty-three points.

The post-Barry Warriors were clearly overachievers, but the great play of Fred Hetzel and Jeff Mullins was something for fans in The Bay to cherish. With a healthy Nate Thurmond, their potential was sky-high.

Finals

Boston Celtics beat Los Angeles Lakers, 4-2
Five matchups. Five Celtics championships. Los Angeles’ track record against their greatest nemesis was abysmal – if there was any chance to switch things up, it was now. Boston was getting older and losing a bit of their identity, while the Lakers had two superstars playing at an excellent level.

The first two games were split in Beantown. Jerry West and Elgin Baylor looked terrible at first, but quickly turned things around to even the series – the opposite happened in their arena, with four Celtics scoring over twenty points in Game 3 to win. West and Baylor responded with a crushing sixty-eight combined in Game 4, leaving the series tied back up north.

Game 5 was a duel between West and John Havlicek, who both scored over thirty points. West had efficiency on his side, but Havlicek nearly got a triple-double – they were both stars that won in different ways. Ultimately, the Celtics got the last laugh after a tense overtime period, waving off an L.A. comeback.

If there was any moment for the Lakers to prove themselves, it was in the decisive sixth match. They got off to a sluggish start and trailed behind for the remainder of regulation – Havlicek outplayed both of L.A.’s superstars, sporting a 40/10/7 stat-line in the blowout win. Teammate Bailey Howell also got thirty points, while Bill Russell made an impact on the glass as always.

Despite being written off, the Celtics silenced critics once again – this was their era, and they had now won ten championships in twelve years.
The Boston Celtics win the 1968 NBA championship!

Awards

Notes
Name(s) under the “All-Stars” section with an asterisk (*) were listed as the MVP of the All-Star Game that year. Those with “(IR)” next to their name were chosen to replace an injured star.

Major Awards

Rookie of the YearMVPCoach of the Year
Earl MonroeWilt ChamberlainRichie Guerin

All-NBA

All-NBA First TeamAll-NBA Second Team
Oscar Robertson
Dave Bing
Elgin Baylor
Jerry Lucas
Wilt Chamberlain		Jerry West
Hal Greer
John Havlicek
Willis Reed
Bill Russell

All-Stars

Eastern All-StarsWestern All-Stars
Dick Barnett
Dave Bing
Wilt Chamberlain
Dave DeBusschere
Hal Greer*
John Havlicek
Gus Johnson
Sam Jones
Jerry Lucas
Willis Reed
Oscar Robertson
Bill Russell		Walt Hazzard
Elgin Baylor
Zelmo Beaty
Bob Boozer
Bill Bridges
Archie Clark
Jim King
Don Kojis
Rudy LaRusso
Clyde Lee (IR)
Nate Thurmond
Jerry West
Lenny Wilkens
East beats West, 144-124

All-Rookie

All-Rookie Team
Walt Frazier
Phil Jackson
Earl Monroe
Bob Rule
Al Tucker

All-Time Championship Leaderboard

Notes
The Baltimore Bullets (1947-1954) won the championship in 1948, but are defunct. As a result, they are not listed.

TeamCountYears
Celtics101957, 1959
1960, 1961
1962, 1963
1964, 1965
1966, 1968
Lakers51949, 1950
1952, 1953
1954
Warriors21947, 1956
76ers21955, 1967
Royals11951
Hawks11958

The NBA Time Machine: 1965

Posted on by in Sports, The NBA Time Machine

Published January 14, 2023

The NBA Time Machine:
1965

Ways of Wilt

Return to Philly

After his first Finals trip, Wilt Chamberlain‘s relationship with the San Francisco Warriors soured quickly. They failed to continue building around him to improve, and he did not get along with ownership. Couple these factors with ongoing health issues that put him in a bad place, and he eventually reached a point of frustration that prompted a trade request.

Chamberlain had become the first superstar to attempt forcing his way out of a city, and he unsurprisingly succeeded. He was traded during the All-Star Break to the Philadelphia 76ers, which placed him in a better organization that had recently relocated to his hometown.

The entire ordeal placed emphasis on how coveted Chamberlain truly was, but it also left a sour impression of him being stubborn – a rare trait for a franchise player.

Change Lanes

Much like George Mikan in his first few years, Wilt Chamberlain was painfully dominant. The league saw his exceptional statistics as a talking point for changing the rules of the game once more, and therefore chose to widen the foul lane from twelve feet to sixteen.

Doing so forced Chamberlain further out of the paint, as the defensive three-seconds rule meant he could not roam in there for longer than that duration. The star center was completely unfazed, though – he may have scored a career low 34.7 points per game, but that was still good for first in the league.

Partnership

The league aimed to involve itself more with others for the sake of exposure and growth – ABC began televising its Sunday “Game-Of-The-Week”, and a sponsorship deal with General Motors begun.

Standout Players

Bill Russell

The second sixty-win season once again happened under the leadership of Bill Russell, who was awarded his fifth M.V.P. award. The seven-time champion also eclipsed five assists for the first time in his career, seemingly solidifying himself as the best passing big man of all-time.

Oscar Robertson

The reigning M.V.P. had himself another legendary season, averaging career highs in assists and minutes. The Royals didn’t quite replicate their fifty-win season this time around, but they maintained their status as a top-tier team anyways.

Jerry West

At this point, the general consensus is that the West Virginian phenomenon was destined to be the leader of Los Angeles. He reached new peaks in scoring, efficiency, and usage, all the while bringing the Lakers atop the Western Division once more.

Wilt Chamberlain

Chamberlain’s season was a bit odd – he became the first superstar to get traded mid-season (to the 76ers) due to conflicts with Warriors owner Franklin Mieuli. Both the Warriors and 76ers were on pace to be slightly better teams with Chamberlain, but not by much. Regardless, he led the league in scoring for the sixth straight time, despite efforts to hinder his effectiveness.

Jerry Lucas

In his sophomore season, the coveted Royals star became the third player in NBA history to average twenty points and rebounds for the entire year. His efficiency dipped slightly due to a larger scoring responsibility, but remained a top-tier option in that regard.

Sam Jones

While a late bloomer, Jones had become the All-NBA-caliber guard the Celtics envisioned when drafting him. He was a top-five ranked scorer with staggering efficiency for somebody dependent on jump shooting. This was the first example of his true offensive potential – he had sacrificed his role in previous years to manifest success, but ’65 Jones was the best version yet.

Around the League

Team Standings

Notes
An asterisk (*) indicates that the team qualified for the playoffs.

Eastern DivisionWLWestern DivisionWL
Boston Celtics*6218Los Angeles Lakers*4931
Cincinnati Royals*4832St. Louis Hawks*4535
Philadelphia 76ers*4040Baltimore Bullets*3743
New York Knicks3149Detroit Pistons3149
San Francisco Warriors1763

Fun Facts

  • The Boston Celtics mustered their second sixty-win season, remaining the only franchise to accomplish one at all.
  • Despite having mediocre personnel, the San Francisco Warriors had All-Star Nate Thurmond to be excited about – after Wilt Chamberlain‘s departure, he anchored them to a top three defense that simply suffered from a lack of shot creation.
  • The Baltimore Bullets still possessed a losing record, but managed to see the first post-season in their four years of existence.
  • For the first time since 1961, less than half of the teams finished with a winning record.

Notable Movement

Key

The player stats listed are based on their last tenure, whether it be with their former team or the previous season.
Name(s) under the “Top Draft Picks” section with a plus (+) opted to play in another league instead of the NBA this season.
Name(s) under the “Top Draft Picks” section with an asterisk (*) were selected with a territorial draft pick.
p – points
r – rebounds
a – assists

Top Draft Picks

#TeamPlayer
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10		New York Knicks
Detroit Pistons
Baltimore Bullets
Philadelphia 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers
St. Louis Hawks
San Francisco Warriors
Cincinnati Royals
Boston Celtics
New York Knicks		Jim Barnes
Joe Caldwell
Gary Bradds
Luke Jackson
Walt Hazzard
Jeff Mullins
Barry Kramer
George Wilson
Mel Counts
Willis Reed

Players

DatePlayerTeamActionDestinationStats
June 18, 1964Terry DischingerBaltimore BulletsTradedDetroit Pistons(20.8p/8.3r/2a)
June 18, 1964Bailey HowellDetroit PistonsTradedBaltimore Bullets(21.6p/10.1r/2.7a)
June 18, 1964Don OhlDetroit PistonsTradedBaltimore Bullets(17.3p/2.5r/3.2a)
January 15, 1965Wilt ChamberlainSan Francisco WarriorsTradedPhiladelphia 76ers(38.9p/23.5r/3.1a)

Other Personnel

DatePersonTeamActionStats
August 8, 1964Coach Slick LeonardBaltimore BulletsResignedRecord: 31-49
August 8, 1964Coach Buddy JeannetteBaltimore BulletsHiredRecord: 37-43
December 27, 1964Coach Harry GallatinSt. Louis HawksFiredRecord: 17-16
December 27, 1964Player-coach Richie GuerinSt. Louis HawksHiredRecord: 28-19
January 3, 1965Coach Eddie DonovanNew York KnicksReassignedRecord: 12-26
January 3, 1965Coach Harry GallatinNew York KnicksHiredRecord: 19-23

Retirements

PlayerTeam(s)Notable Accomplishments
Clyde LovelletteMinneapolis Lakers
Cincinnati Royals
St. Louis Hawks
Boston Celtics		3x Champ
1x All-NBA
4x All-Star
Frank RamseyBoston Celtics7x Champ
Dolph SchayesPhiladelphia 76ers1x Champ
12x All-NBA
12x All-Star
1x Rebounding leader
Kenny SearsNew York Knicks
San Francisco Warriors		2x All-Star
Frank SelvyBaltimore Bullets
Los Angeles Lakers
St. Louis Hawks
New York Knicks
Syracuse Nationals		2x All-Star
Gene ShuePhiladelphia Warriors
New York Knicks
Detroit Pistons
Baltimore Bullets		2x All-NBA
5x All-Star

League Leaders

If a stat is not listed, it was not recorded at the time. As time goes on, this section will begin to include steals per game, blocks per game, etc.

Key

PPG – points per game
RPG – rebounds per game
APG – assists per game
FG% – field goal percentage (percentage of shots that hit)
FT% – free throw percentage (percentage of foul shots that hit)

StatLeaders
PPGWilt Chamberlain (34.7)
Jerry West (31)
Oscar Robertson (30.4)
Elgin Baylor (27.1)
Sam Jones (25.9)
RPGBill Russell (24.1)
Wilt Chamberlain (22.9)
Jerry Lucas (20)
Nate Thurmond (18.1)
Willis Reed (14.7)
APGOscar Robertson (11.5)
Guy Rodgers (7.2)
K.C. Jones (5.6)
Lenny Wilkens (5.5)
Bill Russell (5.3)
FG%Wilt Chamberlain (51%)
Walt Bellamy (50%)
Jerry Lucas (49%)
Jerry West (49%)
Bailey Howell (49%)
FT%Larry Costello (87%)
Oscar Robertson (83%)
Howard Komives (83%)
Adrian Smith (83%)
Jerry West (82%)

Playoffs

Semifinals

East / Philadelphia 76ers beat Cincinnati Royals, 3-1
While the 76ers were significantly worse in the regular season than Cincinnati, it was unwise to bet against a team with Wilt Chamberlain. The Royals stupidly let their guard down – they collapsed in the second half of Game 1, letting Philadelphia force an overtime that they eventually took advantage of.

The Royals won Game 2 behind a strong bounce-back from Oscar Robertson, but they could not capitalize further. Even with Chamberlain scoring a measly seventeen points a couple days later, the 76ers pushed through behind Greer’s acrobatic scoring – they remained in control to the final moments of the series, handing Cincinnati their first semifinals exit since 1962.
West / Baltimore Bullets beat St. Louis Hawks, 3-1
Baltimore’s first post-season appearance went far better than expected. They demolished St. Louis in the opening match, taking advantage of Hawks star Bob Pettit’s poor performance.

While the Hawks blew the Bullets out two nights later, they quickly lost control of the momentum. They were held well below their typical points average two times in a row, and suddenly looked scarier than predicted. With four All-Star-caliber players – Walt Bellamy, Gus Johnson, Don Ohl, and Bailey Howell – Baltimore emerged as an unlikely contender and gentleman’s swept an aging opponent.

Division Finals

East / Boston Celtics beat Philadelphia 76ers, 4-3
No matter the division, Wilt Chamberlain was obliged to defeat his rival Bill Russell to hold a championship. In all five of his playoff runs, he had come across the Celtics – now partnered with a new franchise, the hope was for an upset and the start of the new era.

The teams traded wins constantly, usually involving high-scoring games from Sam Jones and Wilt Chamberlain. Bill Russell paled a bit in comparison to his competitor, but the Celtics’ intelligence and defensive intensity kept winning them games.

In Game 7 back in Boston, there was no clear dominant force. Jones and Chamberlain got theirs, Greer shot poorly but almost had a triple double, and Russell was two assists short of one as well. In the latest moments of the game, Russell attempted a cross-court inbound pass that resulted in a turnover, and as a result Philadelphia gained possession to attempt taking the lead.

Greer was chosen to inbound the ball, and failed to get it to Chamberlain due to some strong off-ball defense from Russell – he chose to pass it to forward Chet Walker, but the Celtics’ John Havlicek deflected the pass. Cheers erupted from the crowd and announcers, birthing a legendary call of “Havlicek stole the ball!” The Boston forward then got the ball to Sam Jones, who dribbled through the clock. This last-minute clutch play was instantly regarded as one of the greatest in playoff history, and saved Boston’s streak of Finals appearances.
West / Los Angeles Lakers beat Baltimore Bullets, 4-2
The Lakers went into this contest as distinct favorites, but an injury to Elgin Baylor at the very start of the first game rendered them underpowered. Jerry West stepped up greatly in his absence, leading Los Angeles to a 2-0 lead behind his average of 50.5 points per game at home.

He continued to carry the Lakers on the road, but the Bullets won consecutive matches in the comfort of Maryland. West closed out the series back in Los Angeles, managing to average forty points for the entire series. He became the second in NBA history to accomplish such, with the other being Baylor – he did so in the 1962 Finals.

West’s legendary performance opened up the gates for L.A. to see the Finals for the third time in four years, setting up yet another face-off against the Boston Celtics.

Finals

Boston Celtics beat Los Angeles Lakers, 4-1
The Celtics were prepared for their fourth Finals battle against the rival Lakers in NBA history. The odds seemed lopsided – they had already won in every instance, but with Elgin Baylor gone, the Lakers posed little to no threat in comparison.

Los Angeles only stood a chance with another West carry job, but Boston did a much better job of containing him than Baltimore did prior. A thirty-two-point blowout opened things up, and the Celtics still won in spite of a forty-five-bomb from West in Game 2.

The Celtics had a moment of weakness in their first road game, with only three players scoring in double digits. This was their only loss of the series, as they promptly handled business for the remainder of the Finals – it may have been the least competitive one of the sixties.
The Boston Celtics win the 1965 NBA championship!

Awards

Notes
Name(s) under the “All-Stars” section with an asterisk (*) were listed as the MVP of the All-Star Game that year. Those with “(IR)” next to their name were chosen to replace an injured star.

Major Awards

Rookie of the YearMVPCoach of the Year
Willis ReedBill RussellRed Auerbach

All-NBA

All-NBA First TeamAll-NBA Second Team
Oscar Robertson
Jerry West
Elgin Baylor
Jerry Lucas
Bill Russell		Hal Greer
Sam Jones
Gus Johnson
Bob Pettit
Wilt Chamberlain

All-Stars

Eastern All-StarsWestern All-Stars
Larry Costello
Wayne Embry
Johnny Green (IR)
Hal Greer
Tom Heinsohn
Luke Jackson
Sam Jones
Jerry Lucas*
Willis Reed
Oscar Robertson
Bill Russell		Elgin Baylor
Walt Bellamy
Wilt Chamberlain
Terry Dischinger
Gus Johnson
Don Ohl
Bob Pettit
Nate Thurmond
Jerry West
Lenny Wilkens
East beats West, 124-123

All-Rookie

All-Rookie Team
Jim Barnes
Joe Caldwell
Luke Jackson
Wali Jones
Howard Komives
Willis Reed

All-Time Championship Leaderboard

Notes
The Baltimore Bullets (1947-1954) won the championship in 1948, but are defunct. As a result, they are not listed.

TeamCountYears
Celtics81957, 1959
1960, 1961
1962, 1963
1964, 1965
Lakers51949, 1950
1952, 1953
1954
Warriors21947, 1956
Royals11951
76ers11955
Hawks11958

The NBA Time Machine: 1963

Posted on by in Sports, The NBA Time Machine

Published December 26, 2022

The NBA Time Machine:
1963

The Bay

Room For Two?

After the ’62 season, investor Franklin Mieuli purchased majority shares of the Philadelphia Warriors and made the decision to relocate to California. He wanted to put a stop to the decline in fan attendance they received in their long-term home, which seemed ludicrous given the allure of Wilt Chamberlain. They settled in the San Francisco Bay Area, subsequently becoming the San Francisco Warriors.

They were the second team to be based in the The Golden State after the Los Angeles Lakers. Because of this extreme change of placement, they were moved to the NBA‘s Western Division – this was the first time a team had changed division since the Central Division was removed in 1951.

To maintain balance, the Ohio-based Cincinnati Royals switched places with the Warriors and made the Eastern Division their home. This put them in a competitive position, now head-to-head with the rising Syracuse Nationals and dynasty Boston Celtics.

Not everyone on the team was fond of the change – Paul Arizin took it as an opportunity to retire after a fruitful ten-year career, and Tom Gola insisted on being traded to the New York Knicks. This hurt the Warriors greatly, as they had now lost two perennial All-Stars. The offense was never more dependent on their former M.V.P., and their perimeter defense saw a laughable regression. Because of this, the franchise finished with a losing record for its first time since drafting Chamberlain.

Indecision

The Chicago Packers changed names to the Chicago Zephyrs and began playing in Chicago Coliseum. Due to sustained poor play during their inaugural year, they once again received good draft utilities and selected big man Bill McGill and eventual Rookie of the Year Terry Dischinger with two top ten picks.

Rookie Recognition

A new award was introduced – the All-Rookie Team. This was a parallel to the All-NBA Team, but exclusively for players in their first year – unlike All-NBA, it was not based on position whatsoever. This was the first newly implemented honor since the Most Valuable Player award in 1956.

Standout Players

Bill Russell

For the seventh season in a row, Russell’s Celtics were the number one ranked team in the NBA. He enjoyed his fourth M.V.P. award as a result – this made him the first player in league history to receive the honor for three consecutive years. Considering his continued leaps as a playmaker and acquiring of the All-Star Game MVP, it was safe to call this one of his best years yet.

Elgin Baylor

Now free of his military obligations, Baylor enjoyed a full eighty-game season and continued to leave his mark as a basketball elite. He hit new levels of efficiency, seemingly preferring precision to volume and improving his outside scoring.

Wilt Chamberlain

With Paul Arizin and Tom Gola gone, the Warriors looked shaky. They were more dependent on Wilt than ever, and he did his job through leading the league in scoring and rebounding once again. Despite this, the newly relocated franchise failed to exceed thirty-one wins.

Oscar Robertson

The Royals’ scoring continued to thrive behind Robertson’s genius playmaking. His numbers were less flashy than his sophomore year, but he shot over 50% for the first time in his career. He was the first – and at this point, only – guard to achieve such.

Bob Pettit

Now in his thirties, the two-time M.V.P. remained a consistent force. The Hawks returned to winning basketball, even with a declining Hagan – Pettit embraced the role of a high-usage first option, which was something he hadn’t done since 1957.

Jerry West

West enjoyed yet another phenomenal season before going down with a hamstring injury in the last couple months. Regardless, he was undoubtedly one of the most talented guards the league had seen – him and Baylor had transformed Los Angeles into a perennial contender.

Around the League

Team Standings

Notes
An asterisk (*) indicates that the team qualified for the playoffs.

Eastern DivisionWLWestern DivisionWL
Boston Celtics*5822Los Angeles Lakers*5327
Syracuse Nationals*4832St. Louis Hawks*4832
Cincinnati Royals*4238Detroit Pistons*3446
New York Knicks2159San Francisco Warriors3149
Chicago Zephyrs2555

Fun Facts

  • The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers seemed prepared to embrace a new rivalry with one another.
    • Besides meeting in the Finals twice, they also led their respective divisions for the second consecutive year.
  • Even with franchise great Dolph Schayes long past his best days, the Syracuse Nationals feasted and bore a top-tier offense.
    • Hal Greer and sophomore Lee Shaffer were the primary contributors – Greer had become the best shooting guard in the NBA.
  • While still terrible, the Chicago Zephyrs were actually not the worst team around – that title went to the New York Knicks, who lacked dominance on either end of the floor.
    • This delayed the Knicks’ aspirations to have a winning season during the 60’s decade.
  • The San Francisco Warriors‘ move to California was tough on morale – their thirty-one wins was the lowest total for the franchise since 1954.
  • A true rarity, the St. Louis Hawks produced a high seed despite playing with a noticeably slow pace.
    • This highlighted the consistency of their veterans, who kept the team level-headed and committed to reversing their errors from the previous season.

Notable Movement

Key

The player stats listed are based on their last tenure, whether it be with their former team or the previous season.
Name(s) under the “Top Draft Picks” section with a plus (+) opted to play in another league instead of the NBA this season.
Name(s) under the “Top Draft Picks” section with an asterisk (*) were selected with a territorial draft pick.
p – points
r – rebounds
a – assists

Top Draft Picks

#TeamPlayer
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10		Chicago Zephyrs
New York Knicks
St. Louis Hawks
Detroit Pistons
Syracuse Nationals
Cincinnati Royals
San Francisco Warriors
Los Angeles Lakers
Boston Celtics
Chicago Zephyrs		Bill McGill
Paul Hogue
Zelmo Beaty
Dave DeBusschere*
Len Chappell
Jerry Lucas*
Wayne Hightower
Leroy Ellis
John Havlicek
Terry Dischinger

Players

DatePlayerTeamActionDestinationStats
June 1962Clyde Lovellette